Glenoid Dysplasia: Incidence and Association with Posterior Labral Tears as Evaluated on MRI

Abstract

In our study population, we found that moderate to severe glenoid dysplasia is not a rare entity as seen on MRI, with an incidence of 14.3%. Furthermore, we found that there is a statistically significant increase in the incidence of posterior labral tears associated with shoulders with moderate or severe glenoid dysplasia compared with those shoulders with no dysplasia or mild dysplasia as evaluated on MRI. Even when the mild cases were included, the incidence of posterior labral tears was significantly increased versus healthy subjects, indicating that even mild cases of glenoid dysplasia may be clinically relevant.

Bilateral Glenoid Hypoplasia in a College Football Athlete

“…In patients with symptomatic labral pathology, surgical management may consist of debridement of hypertrophic tissue or repair of associated tears (13), which may be augmented by bony reconstruction utilizing osteotomy or grafting to restore articular anatomy as indicated (8,13). However, there is no standard association between bony and soft tissue abnormalities in patients with glenoid hypoplasia, and the spectrum of labral pathology may range from intrasubstance tears to complete detachment of the labrum from the glenoid (5,13). Only two cases of perilabral cyst formation related to glenoid hypoplasia have been previously reported in the literature (13).…”

Glenoid Hypoplasia: A Report of 2 Patients

“…Previous studies suggest that a hypoplastic glenoid is more susceptible to injury from such forces considering the vulnerability of the hypertrophied posterior labrum. 2,12 The conservative approach to glenoid hypoplasia consists of a physician-directed physical therapy program for rehabilitation and strengthening of the scapular stabilizers, rotator cuff, and deltoid muscles. 1,3 Further conservative care to address associated instability or internal joint derangement should be considered on a case-by-case basis.…”

Glenoid retroversion: The palaeopathological perspective

“…By examining 98 consecutive MRI arthrograms, Harper et al (2005) found 14.3% cases of moderate or severe dysplasia, but only 60.2% of strictly normal cases. In the latter group, 10.7% posterior labral tears were identified, although there were 33.3% in the dysplastic group.…”

“…Such variability supports the idea that shoulder stability depends not only on bone architecture, but also on biomechanical equilibrium among the soft tissues of the region. Furthermore, in cases of excessive retroversion, relative compensation develops through localised hypertrophy of articular cartilage and the labrum, revealed by MRI (Harper et al, 2005). In addition to a study of shoulder instability, shoulder replacement requires great accuracy in measurements.…”

“…In the latter group, 10.7% posterior labral tears were identified, although there were 33.3% in the dysplastic group. Dysplasia was always accompanied by compensatory hypertrophy of the posterior labrum which reduced the tendency to posterior shoulder instability (Harper et al, 2005). Theodorou et al (2006) used MRI to confirm this hypertrophy of the labrum which may be disinserted (31.2% of cases) and/or fissured (25% of cases).…”